Earth handling scraper

ABSTRACT

A scraper having a bowl with an open end, and forward and rear compartments defined by an ejector in its rearward position, the ejector being capable of traversing the forward compartment to eject material out the open end. A sliding bottom for enclosing the rearward portion of the bowl when the ejector is rearward and movable with the ejector to an open position to permit discharge of material through the bottom of the bowl.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Alfred Jan .locber Lombard, ll]. [21] Appl. No. 1,953 [22] Filed Jan. 12, 1970 [45] Patented Aug. 3, 1971 [73] Assignee International Harvester Company Cbicago,l1l. Continuation of application Ser. No. 534,739, Mar. 16, 1966, now abandoned.

[54] EARTH HANDLING SCRAPER 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. C1 37/8, 37/129 [51 Int. Cl E02! 3/62 [50] FieldofSeareh ..37/8, 117.5, 124, 126, 129

[56] Relerenees Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,791,041 5/1957 Hancock 37/8 Primary ExaminerEdgar S. Burr Attorney-Noel G. Artman ABSTRACT: A scraper having a bowl with an open end, and forward and rear compartments defined by an ejector in its rearward position, the ejector being capable of traversing the forward compartment to eject material out the open end. A sliding bottom for enclosing the rearward portion of the bowl when the ejector is rearward and movable with the ejector to an open position to permit discharge of material through the bottom of the bowl.

EARTH HANDLING SCRAPER This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 534,739, filed Mar. 16, 1966, and now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to material-handling devices and more particularly to a tractor pulled scraper for loading, transporting and unloading various materials found in earth moving jobs such as topsoil, aggregate, heavy clay, granulated material and sometimes rock.

In one conventional form of scraper employed for this purpose a generally rectangular bowl" is provided with the front end of the bowl being open and having a scraper blade adjacent thereto for loading material into the bowl as the tractor pulls the scraper. Unloading is effected by an ejector which in its retracted position lies adjacent the rear of the bowl. This ejector moves forward during unloading forcing the material in the bowl out the front open end thereof. At the same time to facilitate unloading in this prior device, the forward portion of the bottom of the bowl including the scraper blade retracts to the rear as the ejector moves forward.

This prior scraper construction, in addition to other prior constructions, has several significant disadvantages, one of these being that the provision of a movable forward bottom in the bowl decreases the strength of the bowl and necessitates beefing up the bowl construction in less advantageous portions of the bowl, increasing the cost thereof. Another disadvantage, is that the ejector is required to force the entire load from the bowl, which requires a heavy hydraulic actuator and a long unloading cycle time. Further, the ejector and the forward bottom in these prior constructions move in opposite directions during unloading necessitating rather complex linkage to effect this function.

In accordance with the present invention, the disadvantages in prior scraper constructions are obviated by the provision of a simplified scraper construction which permits unloading from both the forward and the rear ends of the scraper bowl. The ejector in its normal retracted position is located approximately centrally in the bowl dividing the bowl into forward and rear compartments. The ejector unloads only the forward compartment of the bowl by pushing the load therein out the forward open end. Unloading of the rear compartment is effected by means of a sliding bottom portion at the rear of the bowl. As the ejector is driven forward during unloading the rear bottom portion of the bowl slides forward with the ejector pennitting the portion of the load in the rear compartment to flow out through the bottom of the bowl. This construction pennits the forward bottom of the bowl to be a stationary member thereby increasing the rigidity of the bowl.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a material-handling scraper having a new and im' proved unloading device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved scraper which has provision for unloading both at the forward and at the rear ends thereof to facilitate unload- A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved scraper construction of the type described above in which a member is provided for separating the scraper into forward and rear compartments with the provision of means for unloading the forward compartment and separate means for unloading the rear compartment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an earth moving scraper of the sliding ejector type in which the ejector unloads material only from the forward portion of the scraper bowl and unloading of the rear portion of the bowl is effected by opening a slideable bottom portion permitting the material in the rear of the bowl to flow downwardly.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved scraper construction of the type described above in which a hydraulically driven linkage is provided for simultaneously moving the ejector and the movable bottom portion in the rear compartment forwardly during the unloading cycle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved scraper construction of the type described above with a retractable leveler mounted at the rear of the scraper and movable to an active position during unloading to level the material after unloading.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved scraper construction of the type described above in which the power means for effecting unloading is also connected to move a loading elevator from its active to its inactive position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the present scraper with the elements shown in their loaded positions, and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the scraper shown in FIG. I with the elements shown in their unloaded positions.

Referring now to the drawings, a scraper l0, incorporating the features of the present invention, is seen to consist of a bowl 11 open at the front and the top, and enclosed at the rear by a suitable rear plate 13. The bowl or body 11 has suitable frame members 15 extending rearwardlytherefrom which are mounted on the axle of the rear wheels 18. A conventional gooseneck 20 pivotally connected to the bowl as at 21 supports the forward end of the scraper in conventional fashion. A hydraulic cylinder 23 permits the raising and lowering of the bowl for scraping and transporting.

The bowl II is in part defined by spaced parallel frame members 25 each having a generally vertical sidewall 27 extending upwardly therefrom.

Mounted between and in the frame members 25 is a bottom member 29 which defines the bottom of the forward portion of the bowl 11. Member 29 is fixed to the frame members 25 adjacent the open end of the scraper bowl so that it adds rigidity and strength thereto. A conventional scraper blade member 3] extends between the frame members 25 adjacent the stationary bottom member 29.

An endless conveyor elevator assembly 33 is provided for assisting the loading of the bowl 1] and more particularly for loading the rear compartment 34. The details of the elevator 33 form no part of the present invention and for that 'reason will not be described in detail, but reference is herein made to copending application 449,153 filed Apr. 19, 1965, now US. Pat. No. 3,334,428, on Material-Handling Apparatus assigned to the assignee of the present invention for a more detailed description thereof. It suffices to state that the elevator 33 is ivotally mounted at 37 on a frame 40 carried by the bowl 1] from an active or loading position shown in FIG. I to an inactive position shown in FIG. 2.

An ejector assembly 41 is provided for unloading material in the forward compartment 42. Ejector 41 includes an ejector plate 43 which extends transversely between the upstanding sidewalls 27 of the bowl and slidable on the upper surface of bottom member 29. Suitable frame members 46 and 47 rigidify the ejector assembly and form a part of the drive mechanism therefore as will appear hereinafter.

The ejector plate 43 when in its retracted position shown in FIGS. 1, divides the bowl into the forward compartment 42 and the rear compartment 34. During scraping, the elevator 33 carries the material up and over the ejector plate 43 into the rear compartment 34 and in this manner the rear compartment is loaded.

A slidable rear bottom member 50 is provided for permitting the unloading of material from the rear compartment 34. Bottom member 50 is slidably mounted in the side frames 25 and extends therebetween. As shown in FIG. I it is in its closed or retracted position. Frame members 25 are constructed to permit sliding movement of the bottom 50 completely under the forward bottom member 29, as shown in FIG. 2. Extending rearwardly from the bottom 50 are spaced aligned bosses 52 which receive a pivot pin or shaft 53. The angled ejector frame member 46 is welded to bottom 50 so that the ejector and the bottom 50 slide forward and rearward as a unit. Other equivalent interconnections between the ejector and the bottom 50 may be provided for effecting the same function.

A hydraulic actuator 55 is provided for reciprocating the ejector assembly 41 and the bottom 50 from the loaded position shown in FIG. 1 to the unloaded position shown in FIG. 2. One end of the actuator 55 is pivotally connected to the body frame 115 as at 57, and extending piston rod 59 of the actuator is pivotally connected to the central portion of a link 60. Link 60 defines a portion of a linkage assembly 62 which transmits actuator movement into movement of the ejector 41 and bottom 50. Link 60 is pivotally mounted to a suitable boss as at 65 fixed to the rear of the scraper bowl Ill. The other end of link 60 is pivotally connected to generally horizontal links 67, which in turn are pivotally connected to shaft or pin 53. lt should be understood that an additional actuator and linkage assembly may be provided if desired for the particular scraper. As the hydraulic cylinder extends from its position shown in FIG. ll, it transfers force through the linkage 62 and pin 53 to the bottom 50 and the ejector 411 reciprocating them forward toward the unloaded position. In this manner material in the forward compartment 42 is forced out the forward open end of the scraper bowl while material in the rear compartment 34 is permitted to flow downwardly through the open bottom.

A pusher assembly 70 is provided for moving the elevator 33 from its loading position shown in FlG. l to its inactive position shown in FIG. 2. Assembly 70 includes bars 71 pivotally mounted on suitable bosses extending from the ejector plate 43. The other end of the bars 71 carry a pusher member 73 which is adapted to engage a U-shaped retaining plate 7d carried by the elevator assembly 33. As the ejector moves forward the pusher 73 engages the retainer 74 pivoting the elevator assembly about pivot 37, during which time the bars 71 pivot upwardly.

A leveling edge member 80 is provided for leveling the material as it is unloaded from the bowl ill. The leveling edge is pivotally mounted at 82 on the rear-bottom of bowl 111 by suitable bosses (not show). Carried by the leveling edge are cam projections 84 aligned with the rearwardly extending bosses 52 on the bottom 50, so that upon retraction of the bottom 50 to its position shown in H6. 1, the bosses 52 will engage the cams 34 and pivot the leveling edge 80 clockwise to its inactive position shown in FIG. 1. Upon movement of the bottom 50 forwardly during unloading the leveling edge 8'!) is permitted to rotate counterclockwise to its active position shown in FIG. 2.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a very simplified arrangement has been provided for not only unloading the bowl at the forward and the rear but also moving the elevator to an inactive position and the leveling edge to an active position.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

lclaim:

ll. In a material-handling scraper, the combination comprismg:

a scraper bowl having an open end and including a floor;

said floor having an opening;

a blade affixed to the floor;

power-driven elevator means mounted on the bowl adjacent the open end, said elevator means being movable between a working position wherein the elevator means is adjacent to the blade and a raised position wherein the elevator means is remote from the blade;

an ejector mounted in the bowl and reciprocable between a forward position adjacent the elevator and a rearward position remote therefrom;

a floor member mounted in the bowl and reciprocable between an open position wherein said opening is uncovered to permit discharge of material therethrough and a closed position wherein said opening is covered; and

a single hydraulic cylinder;

and means operatively connecting said cylinder to each of said floor member, said ejector and said elevator means for movement of each of said floor member, said ejector and said elevator means between their said positions in response to extension and retraction of said cylinder.

2. In the combination according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a leveler member mounted on the scraper rearward of said opening and movable between an inactive position adjacent the bowl and an active position wherein it protrudes below the bowl to level the material discharged from the open end and through said opening;

and means operatively connecting the leveler member to the cylinder means for movement of the leveler member in response to extension and retraction of the cylinder means.

3. In a material-handling scraper, the combination comprising:

a scraper bowl having an end wall a pair of sidewalls and a floor defining an open end;

said floor having an opening adjacent the rear wall;

a blade affixed to the floor between the sidewalls;

power driven elevator means pivotally mounted on the sidewalls adjacent the open end, said elevator means being swingable between a working position wherein the lower end of the elevator means is adjacent to the blade and a raised position wherein the lower end of the elevator means is remote from the blade;

an ejector mounted in the bowl and reciprocable between a forward position adjacent the elevator and a rearward position remote therefrom;

mechanical link means extending between the ejector and the elevator means and capable of assuring that the elevator means is moved from its working position to its raised position as the ejector is moved from its rearward position to its forward position;

a floor member mounted in the bowl between the sidewalls and movable between a closed position covering said opening and an open position wherein said opening is uncovered to permit discharge of material therethrough;

attaching means mechanically securing the floor member to the ejector;

hydraulic cylinder means mounted on the scraper;

and means operatively connecting the cylinder means to the floor member, said cylinder means thereby serving to move each of said floor member, said ejector and said elevator means between their said position in response to extension and retraction of said cylinder means.

4. In the combination according to claim 3 wherein the means operatively connecting the cylinder means to the floor member comprises:

linkage means pivotally secured to the rear wall and to the floor member.

. 5. In the combination according to claim 4 and further comprising:

a leveler member pivotally mounted on the scraper rearward of said opening and movable between an inactive position adjacent the bowl and an active position wherein it protrudes below the floor to level the material discharged from said opening; and

cam means carried by the leveler member and engageable by said linkage means to move the leveler from its active position to its inactive position as the floor member is moved from its open position to its closed position. 

1. In a material-handling scraper, the combination comprising: a scraper bowl having an open end and including a floor; said floor having an opening; a blade affixed to the floor; power-driven elevator means mounted on the bowl adjacent the open end, said elevator means being movable between a working position wherein the elevator means is adjacent to the blade and a raised position wherein the elevator means is remote from the blade; an ejector mounted in the bowl and reciprocable between a forward position adjacent the elevator and a rearward position remote therefrom; a floor member mounted in the bowl and reciprocable between an open position wherein said opening is uncovered to permit discharge of material therethrough and a closed position wherein said opening is covered; and a single hydraulic cylinder; and means operatively connecting said cylinder to each of said floor member, said ejector and said elevator means for movement of each of said floor member, said ejector and said elevator means between their said positions in response to extension and retraction of said cylinder.
 2. In the combination according to claim 1 and further comprising: a leveler member mounted on the scraper rearward of said opening and movable between an inactive position adjacent the bowl and an active position wherein it protrudes below the bowl to level the material discharged from the open end and through said opening; and means operatively connecting the leveler member to the cylinder means for movement of the leveler member in response to extension and retraction of the cylinder means.
 3. In a material-handling scraper, the combination comprising: a scraper bowl having an end wall a pair of sidewalls and a floor defining an open end; said floor having an opening adjacent the rear wall; a blade affixed to the floor between the sidewalls; power driven elevator means pivotally mounted on the sidewalls adjacent the open end, said elevator means being swingable between a working position wherein the lower end of the elevator means is adjacent to the blade and a raised position wherein the lower end of the elevator means is remote from the blade; an ejector mounted in the bowl and reciprocable between a forward position adjacent the elevator and a rearward position remote therefrom; mechanical link means extending between the ejector and the elevator means and capable of assuring that the elevator means is moved from its working position to its raised position as the ejector is moved from its rearward position to its forward position; a floor member mounted in the bowl between the sidewalls and movable between a closed position covering said opening and an open position wherein said opening is uncovered to permit discharge of material therethrough; attaching means mechanically securing the floor member to the ejector; hydraulic cylinder means mounted on the scraper; and means operatively connecting the cylinder means to the floor member, said cylinder means thereby serving to move each of said floor member, said ejector and said elevator means between their said position in response to extension and retraction of said cylinder means.
 4. In the combInation according to claim 3 wherein the means operatively connecting the cylinder means to the floor member comprises: linkage means pivotally secured to the rear wall and to the floor member.
 5. In the combination according to claim 4 and further comprising: a leveler member pivotally mounted on the scraper rearward of said opening and movable between an inactive position adjacent the bowl and an active position wherein it protrudes below the floor to level the material discharged from said opening; and cam means carried by the leveler member and engageable by said linkage means to move the leveler from its active position to its inactive position as the floor member is moved from its open position to its closed position. 